>>> meanwhile, more pushback over the president's selection of the independent minded chuck hagel as secretary of defense. >> on hagel's part, i actually think there are serious policy concerns and i think these hearings are going to make a great deal of difference as to whether he is confirmed or not. >> reporter: with washington barreling toward its borrowing limit, the white house is digging in its heels for debate over the debt ceiling. >> it is congress' responsibility to ensure that the bills congress racked up are paid. >> reporter: just one of several looming showdowns as the president prepares to kick off his second term. >> what you're seeing is a more aggressive barack obama, someone who is looking more at polishing what his place in history will be, the mark he wants to leave on the country in the next four years. and that, in some ways, means a more contentious relationship with congress. >> reporter: and some serious people, matt, are floating an idea to try to avoid that debt ceiling crisis, proposing that the treasury department mint a platinum trillion dollar coin. y